Writing instrument with a holder containing a shiftable writing unit



June 18, 1963 P. A. s. PETERSEN 3,093,921

WRITING INSTRUMENT WITH A HOLDER coNTAINING A SHIFTABLE WRITING UNITFiled Deo. 15, 1959 Lgs!" United States Patent O 3,093,921 WRITINGINSTRUMENT WITH A HOLDER CON- TAINING A SHIFTABLE WRITING UNIT PoulAsger Schacht Petersen, Copenhagen, Denmark, assigner to Chr. OlsenAkts., Copenhagen, Denmark Filed Dec. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 859,628 1Claim. (Cl. 40-334) This invention relates to writing instruments.

More particularly, 4this invention relates to a writing instrument ofthe type in -which a writing unit is shiftable in a holder betweenoperative and inoperative positions by a switching means which includesa push-button. The holder includes an element which is constituted inpart by a transparent portion and an indicia element is provided in theholder so as to be visible through said transparent portion.

It is an object of the invention to vary the exposure of the indiciaelement through the transparent portion.

The indicia element may be fan inscription, a picture, or some othersuitable visual display means and a change n the exposed part of theindicia element is efected according to the invention in :accordancewith movement of the writing unit.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a writing instrumentcomprising a holder and a writing unit movably supported in the holder.There is -fu-rther provided switching means coupled to the writing unitvfor moving the same between operative and inoperative positions. Theswitching means includes a movable pushbutton and an extension rigidlyconnected to the pushbutton and in engagement with the writing unit.There is further provided an indicia element in said holder, said holderincluding an element constituted in part by a transparent portion :andassociated with the indicia element to permit viewing thereof. Infurther accordance with the invention, there is provided meansoperatively associated with the switching means and said elements formoving the elements lrelative to one another in accordance with movementof the switching means for exposing ditferent portions of the indiciaelement through the transparent portions. The last said means includes atransverse pin supported on the extension and engageable with one of theelements for moving the same with respect to the other of the elements.

In a special embodiment of the Writing instrument according to theinvention there may be inserted, between the transparent portions andthe indicia element, a mask through which restricted parts of the plateare visible when the writing unit is in either of its positions.

In the drawing are shown several embodiments of the writing instrumentaccording to the invention.

FIG. l is a diametrical section through a ballpoint pen with the writingunit in its inoperative position;

FIG. 2 shows, in perspective, a portion of the pen;

FIG. 3 is a diametrical section through the pen with the writing unit inits operative position;

FIG. 4 is a diametrical section at right :angles to the section shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is -a section on the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 lis a diametrical section through a modified embodiment; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side views of the pen with the writing unit thereofrespectively in the inoperative and operative positions.

In the writing instrument shown in FIGS. 1-5, the writing unit consistsof -a ballpoint pen cartridge 1 inserted in ra case or holder 2 and heldin position by a spring 3. Behind the cartridge is inserted `anoperating push button 4 having a leg 5 and a foot 6 pressing against theend of cartridge 1. In a transverse hole 7 is Patented June 1,8, 1963loosely inserted a shiftable transverse pin which is kept pressed,against the inner wall 10 of the case 2, by means of a leaf spring 9extending `along one side of the leg.

The writing unit is shifted to its operative or writing position bydepressing the button 4 which retains the cartridge 1 in the writingposition so that the pin 8 is urged, by the spring 9, into a recess 11in the case 2 in which recess there is provided a pressure member 12that is freely pivotable on the pivot `13. To withdraw the writing unitthe member 12 is depressed into the case to the position shown in FIG.l, whereby the pin 8 is `displaced Ifrom the recess 11 against theaction of spring 9, whereupon, the spring 3 presses both the cartridge 1and the button 4 back into the inoperative position as shown in FIG. 1.

The leg 5 carries a fixed transverse pin 414 which engages an indiciaelement constituted by a plate or strip 15 through a hole therein. Theouter side of the strip =15 contains pictures or writing or both, whichis visible through apertures 16 in a ixed grid-shaped mask 17 located infront of the plate 15. The mask, in turn, is covered by a transparentportion or window l18 which is provided in the outer cylindrical surfaceof the case.

When the button y4 is depressed, the strip 15 will be shifted, and inthis way it is possible e.g. to bring two sets of indicia alternatinglybehind apertures 16 so that two diierent inscriptions will appear behindthe window 1S, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

On the diametrically opposite side of the pencil there may be provided asimilar mechanism with a dilerent inscription or picture designation,the said mechanism being moved by a pin similar to pin 14. In thepresent case, however, only a non-moving strip 20 with a permanentpicture or lettering is shown behind -a window 19.

Windows :18 and 19 are provided at either end with tongues 21 which arethreadably engaged with components 22 and 23 which are in turnthreadably engaged with the case 2. In this way windows `18 and 19 areretained in position even if they are not themselves threaded.

In the ballpoint pen described, the strip 15 will move with .themovement of the operating button 4.

However, by placing the transverse pin 14 on a shoe 24 which is locatedat the end of the cartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the strip 15 willmove together wit-h the cartridge regardless whether the operatingbutton 4, moves with the cartridge. In the shoe 24 is drilled an obliquepressure-equalizing channel 2S leading to the central part of thecartridge 1.

In writing instruments whose operating button 4 or operating membercorresponding thereto has merely a single iixed position and hence doesnot take part in all the movements of the writing unit 1, moreparticularly not in its movement Ifrom the writing position to theinoperative position the movable plate 15 may if desired be caused tofollow the writing unit 1, the operating member 4, or, if preferred, anyother member of the switching mechanism.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the mask 17 may be movedinstead of the strip 15, leaving the strip wedged beneath the tongues 21while the transverse pin 14 passes through `a slot in the strip 1S intoa hole in the mask 17, which will consequently be moved by the pin 14.

Finally, both the strip and the mask -17 may be moved by the componentsof the switching mechanism, including the writing unit 1 and theoperating member 4, in such manner, however, that each `follows themovement of its separate component, and thus, when shifting, move inrelation to each other, preferably in an opposite direction of movement.

The use of `the term mask is to be understood to include not only vaplate with apertures in it, such as a grid as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,but also a wing or set-piece movable with respect to a background forconcealing different por-tions thereof.

What I claim 'and `desire to secure by Letters Patent is :V

A/writing instrument comprising a holder, a writing unit movablysupported in said holder, switching means coupled to said writing unitfor moving the same between operative andinoperative position, saidswitching means including a movable push-button and an extension rigidlyconnected to said push-button -and in engagement with said writing unit,an indicia element in said holder, said holder including an elementoonstituted in part by a transparent portion .and associated with `saidindicia element to permit viewing thereof, and means operativelyassociated with the switching means rand said elements for moving theelements `relative to one another in accord-A ance with movement of theswitching means for exposing different portions of the indicia elementthrough the transparent portions, the last said means including atnansverse pin supported on said extension Aand engagea-ble with one ofthe elements for moving the same with -respect to the other of theelements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,347,144 Wilson Apr. 18, 19:44 2,488,639 OConnor Nov. 22, 19.49 2,736,959 Simon Mar. 6, 1956 2,896,348 Herne July 28, 1959

